Vitality comes from within. Chinese medicine considers the abdomen to be the storehouse of the body’s energy. It is believed that keeping your abdomen warm and protected has important health and longevity benefits. To defend your energy bank, you must protect your abdomen from weather extremes by keeping your midsection warm and covered. Some other potential energy robbers to watch out for are poor dietary habits, sexual excesses, insufficient sleep and exhausting physical labor. A good way to replenish your energy bank is to make a habit of warming your belly with a hot water bottle. Another method of preserving and stimulating the energy is to turn a hand towel into an herbal abdominal wrap by soaking it in water with rejuvenating herbs such as rosemary, sage, and peppermint.